How To Use Multiple iPods With One Computer

There is more than one situation in which it is possible to use multiple iPods on the same computer. Here are some of them.

Situation one

In the case of sharing a computer with other persons, you may establish different user accounts on the same computer. This is beneficial when you like other kind of music than your colleagues and you can keep apart individual iTunes music libraries and personalize your iPods according to each person's taste.

On your computer you will find a Help documentation that will show you how to install different user accounts. The information you need is found by:

Situation two

There is a way to use multiple iPods with the same computer which doesn't require the existence of different user accounts. Basically, you can set the iTunes program to update each iPod with only certain playlists. In this way, you can separate, let's say, the movies and all your songs on your iPod from the workout music on your iPod shuffle.With the latest version of iTunes you can do it in this way:

Make a new iTunes playlist that will contain all the special songs you wish to send to each iPod for those particular iPods. You can find out more about creating playlists here.

Find out how to Sync your iPod, read the section including the iPod Tutorial Steps.

You should keep in mind the fact that the iTunes program designed for Windows does not support multiple iPods connected simultaneously.

Situation three

The last suggestion is to create separate iTunes libraries for each iPod. Remember that you have to create a new iTunes library File. You can't just make a copy of your existing iTunes Library file so you have to quit iTunes if it is opened.

For Mac users: Press down the Option tab while you open iTunes. For Windows users: Press down the Shift tab while you open iTunes.
In the window that will appear, perform the following:

Select Create Library.

Give a name to and save the alternate Library file. The iTunes program will open with this new file.

Access iTunes Preferences.

Select the Advanced Tab and then select the General tab.

De-select Copy files to iTunes Music folder while adding to library checkbox if it is check-marked and click ok. It will stop iTunes from making a duplicate of your existing media files in the new library folder.

Add the desired media files you wish to have on your iPod to iTunes by dragging them or using the Add to Library option in the File menu.

After the iTunes Library is designed as you want it, connect and sync iPod.

After the sync is terminated, close iTunes.

For Mac users: Press down the Option tab while you open iTunes. For Windows users: Press down the Shift tab while you open iTunes.

Select Choose library.

Select the original iTunes Library and press Choose (for Mac users) or Open (for Windows users). You may now switch between the separate libraries on the different iPods.